These things premised, I shall now give you the full proof of the doctrine, in the following reasons. The doctrine you re- member is, — those that obey the gospel, whatsoever, or whomsoever they want, shall ever be in a peaceful and blessed con- dition. The reasons are,
1st, The God of peace shall be with them.
2d, If God be with them, all things, whatsoever befal them, shall make for their good.
Reason 1st. The God of peace shall be with them ; these things do, live in the o- bedience of the holy doctrine which you have received, and the God of peace shall be with you. This glorious promise is pregnant with all the blessings that heaven and earth can afford. If you ask, why, — what is there in it ? I demand of you, what is there in God? God is in the promise; all that is in God is here assured to the godly. The philosophers of old attained to some glimmerings of the excellencies that are in God, by these three ways.
L Per viamnegatioyiis, concelxing of h\m as a Being removed from all things signify- ing imperfection : as ignorance, impotence, iniquity, corruptibility, composition, alter- ation, or any limits or bounds of his es- sence, power and glory.
2. Per vimn causalitatis, conceiving of him as the fountain of all other beings : and thence concluding, that whatsoever ex^ cellencies or perfections are scattered up and down in the whole creation, are all u- nited in him from whom they had their o- riginal.
3. Per viam eminenti(^, by way of excel-
FAREWELL DISCOURSE ON HIS EJECTION.
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loncy ; so tliat wh.itever perfection, what- ever goodness, is to be found in any crea- ture, tliough it be not to be found in God, fiirmaliter, yot there is that in him — he be- itiiT tlie first cause of ail — that doth infin- itely, superabundantly answer them all. Thoujjh there be not the same specific ex- cellencies in hiui, nor those very pleasures and delights issuing from him, which the creatures vichl, vet there are such excel- lencies, such perfections, as transcend and surpass them all. The scriptures tell us more positively and plainly, that God is al- mighty, omniscient, omnipresent, infinite, eternal, unchangeable, all-sufficient, holy, righteous, gracious, — the portion, the pro- tection, the rewardcr, yea, the exceeding great reward of them that diligently seek him. And this is he that is in the promise. God is in the promise. I must not enlarge in this spacious field ; I shall keep nearer the text, and shall confine myself to these four particulars :
1. God is in the promise, as the God of peace, as the author and bestower of peace. The greatest of blessings is the blessing of peace ; peace hath all blessings included in it. It hath possession, fruition, and secu- rity ; it hath plenty, pleasure, and safety ; where there is no peace, there is no securi- ty for the holding, nor opportunity of en- joying what we have. Whatever we have, we have it as if we had it not. Peace is the greatest of blessings. Peace with God is the most glorious of peace. What is there that is excellent, what is there that is desirable, that is not comprehended in this peace with God ? Wliere there is peace, there is pardon ; guilt cannot consist with this peace ; " being justified by faith, we have peace with God." Where there is peace, there is grace and holiness ; " There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." Where there is peace, there is love and good will. As love, so peace is the union of hearts. " The God of peace is with you," signifies no less than this, — the Al- mighty God bears you good will. These two, — peace and good will, — are twins : " on earth peace, good will towards men." Where there is peace, there is life, ever- lasting life ; internal, is the seed of eternal peace. This peace is a portion, — peace
with God is our possession of the God of peace ; this peace is a sanctuary, — if the God of peace be with us, the peace of God will keep our hearts.